What is a mystery? We do not know, it is beyond our comprehension. When we talk about
mystery, we talk about eternal obscurity; for that which is known, ceases to be
a mystery; and all that is known, we may know as we progress in the scale of
intelligence. That which is eternally beyond the comprehension of all our
intelligence is mystery, yet this word is used by the translators of the Bible.
They write about mystery, and talk about mystery; what are they talking about?
I do not know what they mean, nor what they wish to convey by that word, and
they do not know themselves. This language is made use of in the Bible, because
they have nothing better. Things transpire almost every day in our lives which
we class under the term mystery, for want of a better term. What does it mean,
in reality? Why, nothing at all. But
for the accommodation of those who speak the English language, we will continue
to use the term, and proceed to examine the negative of true riches. (JOD 1:274 | August
14, 1853, italics in original)